Three House GOP freshmen have just debated, two in favor of HB 248, one against:

Rep. Paul Romrell, R-St. Anthony, said his long experience in local government taught him that the best government is that closest to home. After the Senate version of the health exchange bill came out, he said, “We as freshmen didn’t like some of what was in that bill.” Now, HB 248, he said, includes “several of those changes that the ‘Gang of 16’ had written into it. I think it’s a much better bill than it was in the Senate, and I’m proud and honored to be a part of the Gang of 16. And I would urge your yes vote when that time comes.”

Rep. Julie VanOrden, R-Pingree, another member of the group of freshmen, said, “I have to go with my district. … They’re concerned about jobs.” She said, “I have talked to very, very conservative people who said that a state exchange would be the best way to go.”

Rep. Steven Harris, R-Meridian, said, “I do want to express my concerns. Whenever I discuss this with someone who is intent on voting for the state exchange, they always sort of hold their nose and say, ‘We don’t want the exchange any more than you do, but it’s the law, we have to do it. At least it will be under state control.’ But when I look at the law, I see very little state control. Even the control we could have claimed, we’ve turned over to a nonprofit with very little oversight. … I refuse to be complicit to the biggest government takeover in our lifetime. … What do you want to hear when it’s all said and done? Brought to you by Obama? Or brought to you by the Idaho Legislature?”